Matt Rainey/The Star-LedgerThe exterior of a Franklin Boulevard home in Franklin Township, where police shot and killed a man during after he pulled a gun while police attempted to arrest him, authorities said.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP (Somerset) — It was self-defense when a Franklin Township police officer shot and killed the man who pointed a loaded gun at police during a domestic violence call, a grand jury determined today.

The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into the Aug. 10 shooting that killed 60-year-old Arthur McDougald,and the results were presented to a grand jury in Somerville today.

"They’ve made a determination that this was a justifiable shooting in self-defense," said Acting Somerset County Prosecutor A. Peter DeMarco Jr. "It was truly a last resort."

The three officers who responded to the 911-call were placed on paid administrative leave.

One officer has returned to duty, said Sgt. Philip Rizzo of the Franklin Township Police Department. Two – including the officer who fired his service weapon – remain on paid administrative leave.

McGougald’s family members could not be reached at home last night for comment.

"It’s standard procedure with an incident such as this for an officer to undergo medical and psychological evaluations prior to returning to duty," Rizzo said. "The officers remain on paid administrative leave until they have completed these evaluations."

It was 8:45 when the officers responded to the house on Franklin Boulevard that Tuesday night. The caller said her father was assaulting her mother, DeMarco said. Police found McDougald outside the dwelling and he said he was upset because his wife and daughter had locked him out.

The officers spoke to the wife and then told McDougald he was being arrested for domestic violence, DeMarco said. He became angry and ran. When the officers tried to stop him in front of the residence, he drew a small-caliber handgun and pointed it directly at police. A 25-year veteran fired one round, striking McDougald. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene, DeMarco said.

The state Attorney General’s office has been advised of the investigation and the grand jury’s action, DeMarco said.

Peter Aseltine, a spokesman for the Attorney General, said, "We will look at their report and determine whether any further action is needed. Without addressing this specific case, where there has been a grand jury presentation by the county, it is less likely that we would call for further action."

Today’s results were a relief to the officer’s colleagues, who anticipated that a grand jury would not indict him, based on the evidence.

"I know the prosecutor’s office did an extensive, thorough investigation, and I was certainly expecting these results due to the events that the officers described and the level of experience of the officers on the scene," said Franklin Detective Patrick Colligan, state delegate for Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 154. The three officers had a combined 60 years of experience in law enforcement.

The officer who fired the weapon is doing as well as one can expect, Colligan said. "It’s certainly a tragic event that no officer expects in their career, but everybody has to prepare for. He knew that there was no option and he was in fear for his life."